In the far southwest corner of the World and adjacent to Animal Kingdom theme park, Animal Kingdom Lodge opened in 2001. The Animal Kingdom's preserve, featuring more than 30 species of animals is what the resort is most beloved for. Many of the animals are visible from guestroom balconies and special viewing areas, including an elevated kopje (or rock outcropping) that puts guests within 15 feet of the animals. In addition, in-room Wildlife Field Guides provides a checklist with identification pointers and behavior tips on everything from ankole cattle to okapi, red river hogs and zebras.

Designed by Peter Dominick of Wilderness Lodge fame, Animal Kingdom Lodge fuses African tribal architecture with the exotic, rugged style of grand East African national-park lodges. Five-story, thatched-roof guest-room wings fan out from a vast central rotunda housing the lobby and featuring a huge mud fireplace. Public areas and about half of the rooms offer panoramic views of a private 43-acre wildlife preserve, punctuated with streams and rock outcroppings and populated with some 200 free-roaming animals and 130 birds. Most of the 972 guest rooms measure 344 square feet and boast hand-carved furnishings and richly colored soft goods. Almost all have full balconies.

~ Animal Kingdom Lodge: Architecture and Stunning Interior ~

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The African style of this resort is a visual delight.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge was designed by Mr. Dominick, known for the Wilderness Lodge; in both resorts, the lobby vaults six stories up to the ceiling. Animal Kingdom Lodge has a massive mud fireplace, huge carved wood pillars, and giant showcase window facing the savanna. In the lobby are fascinating artifacts.

In 2007, in the first of two phases, Disney converted 134 rooms of the original hotel into Disney Deluxe Villa (DDV) accommodations. Disney opened part of the second phase, called Kidani Village, in the spring of 2009, and the remaining portion in late 2009. To avoid the confusion of having to differentiate two separate DDV buildings with Animal Kingdom Villas in their names, Disney has christened the units in the original hotel, as well as the building itself, as Jambo House. Thus, if youre staying in a DDV unit at Animal Kingdom Lodge you're at Jambo House, and if youre staying in the new building youre at Kidani Village. The entire complex, classified by Disney as a Deluxe resort, is called Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House offers fine dining in a casual setting at Jiko-The Cooking Place. Twin wood-burning ovens are the focal point of the restaurant, which serves meals inspired by the myriad cuisines of Africa.

Boma-Flavors of Africa, the family restaurant, serves both a breakfast and dinner buffet with food prepared in an exhibition kitchen featuring a wood-burning grill and rotisserie. Tables are under thatched roofs. The Mara, a quick-service restaurant with extended hours, and Victoria Falls, a delightful mezzanine lounge overlooking Boma-Flavors of Africa, round out the hotels food-and-beverage service. Other amenities include an elaborate swimming area and a village marketplace. Children ages 6-14 can explore African culture through games and crafts. Cost is $70 per child; reservations must be made using a credit card.

Consisting of a separate freestanding building shaped like a backwards 3, Kidani Village comprises 324 units, a dedicated savanna, a new pool, and Sanaa, a sit-down restaurant combining Indian and African cuisines. Other features include a fitness center, an arcade, a water play area, a gift shop, and tennis, shuffleboard, and basketball courts. Kidani Village is connected to the original hotel by a half-mile walking trail; DDV guests at either resort can use the facilities at both buildings.

Both Jambo House and Kidani Village have studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas. Most rooms at Kidani Village are larger, however, and the difference is anywhere from 50 square feet for a studio to more than 200 square feet for a two-bedroom unit. (The three-bedroom Grand Villas at Jambo House, 148 square feet larger than those in Kidani Village, are the exception.) Because of the difference in area, one-bedroom units in Kidani Village can accommodate up to five people and two-bedroom units can hold up to nine through the inclusion of a sleeper chair in the living room. At Jambo House, the one-bedroom value rooms sleep four, while the standard, savannah and club-level rooms sleep 5.

All in all, it's a quiet, relaxed resort. The lobby and rooms have a smaller, more personal feel than Jambo Houses. The building exterior isn't anything special - essentially a set of green rectangles with oversize African-themed decorations attached. Kidani's distance from Jambo House makes it feel even more remote than the latter. The bus stops are a fair distance from the main building, too, and its easy to head in the wrong direction when you're coming back from the parks at night.

Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas is connected to the rest of Disney World by bus, but because of the resorts remote location, you may consider renting a car if you stay there.

~ TIPS ~

Bring binoculars

Bring a tripod for your camera

There are cameras everywhere on the outside of the lodge. Be sure and close your room drapes for privacy.

There is no pathway to Animal Kingdom and there are no trams to Animal Kingdom either.

AKL does not allow balloons inside the resort. Any balloons brought to the resort (from the theme parks, for example) will have to be checked with bell services for the duration of the guest's stay. They will be returned upon departure. This information might be helpful to families with younger children, so there are no disappointments when returning to the resort.

~ Room type ~

Standard View

One king bed and one day bed, two queen beds, or one queen bed and one bunk bed. Private furnished balcony with parking lot or no view. Room size (square feet): 344. Sleeps four people. High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Compact refrigerator and coffee/tea maker. Cable/satellite TV with complimentary Disney and ESPN channels. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. Complimentary weekday newspaper. Ceiling fan and air conditioning. In-room safe. Guestrooms are all non-smoking.

Guests staying in a Club Level accommodation can take advantage of a number of extra amenities, including the Kilimanjaro Club itself. The club is an oversized loft, located on the sixth floor and overlooking the lobby. Here concierge cast members help arrange dining, childcare, transportation and assorted activities.

There are comfortable seating areas and food and beverage offerings throughout the day, including a continental breakfast (complete with espresso machine), an afternoon tea with cookies and fruit, wine and cheese selections, beer, cordials and desserts. Be sure to try the delicious homemade kettle chips and African smoothies.

The lounge overlooks the main lobby below, and is located on the sixth floor. You get a great feeling of superiority when you head up there in the elevator, as you have to use your gold room key card to get up there. It led to some impressed looks from those sharing the elevator with us! [ ]

The Kilimanjaro Club concierge desk is open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, with cast members available to help you with any queries you might have or make any bookings, such as dining or tour reservations. Beware though, they cant work miracles, especialy during the busiest seasons, such as the Holidays.

Additional concierge club benefits include an advance itinerary planning service, newspaper delivery, opportunity to book a Wildlife Discovery Excursion at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park and the exclusive opportunity to book and experience the Sunrise Safari Breakfast Adventure (park tickets for Animal Kingdom must be purchased separately).

Here are some basic distances from google maps:
Disney's Hollywood Studios- about 5 miles
Blizzard Beach - about 2.5 miles
Disney's BoardWalk - about 5 miles
Disney's Animal Kingdom - about 1 mile
Epcot - about 6 miles
Typhoon Lagoon - about 6 miles
Downtown Disney Area - 2.2 miles
Magic Kingdom - about 8 miles
SeaWorld Orlando - about 10 miles
Discovery Cove - about 12 miles
Universal Studios Florida - About 15 miles

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We have our first stay ever at AKL Jambo in April, and I simply just can't wait! My boys don't know, it is going to be a surprise. We got a savannah view room and I know my youngest is going to love it. He wants to be a zoo keeper when he grows up. I don't want to wish my life away, but I can't wait for April!

I'm curious about transportation to the parks. I know AKL only offers the buses versus other deluxe resorts that have both buses, ferry and/or monorail. I'm wondering if that makes it harder on busier days to travel to the parks.

Also, can anyone tell me if rooms with bunk beds can be adjoining? We'll be in 2 rooms and would love to request these if we can have "attached" rooms...

Lot's of excited people here already! I guess I will join them! I am finally in the double digits (still the very high ones though) for my trip to Florida which will include 9 wonderful nights at AKV Jambo House!

We are so excited to be going back to AKL this June! I am trying to plan a night at our resort where we can grab dinner at Boma or Sanaa and still do the story telling by the fire pit. Does anyone know an approximate time that they start the story telling during the summer? (I need to know when to make our dinner reservations so we get out in time for this). Thanks!!!

We have our first stay ever at AKL Jambo in April, and I simply just can't wait! My boys don't know, it is going to be a surprise. We got a savannah view room and I know my youngest is going to love it. He wants to be a zoo keeper when he grows up. I don't want to wish my life away, but I can't wait for April!

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I can relate to the not wanting to wish my life away. I am counting the days. 92 to be exact. When I upgraded from CSR and told them the reason (5th anniversary only happens once, might as well stay in luxury), the CM asked if I would like the Savannah view, as I could only afford the standard I declined. Under my breath towards my mother in law I said 'wish I could afford Savannah View'. The CM went on a little more. Halfway through her spiel about parking and the 12$ a day valet she stopped mid sentence and said "let me see if we can't request you savannah view'. I know it's not a guarantee, and I'm half worried that the cm sorting the rooms at check in may feel I'm trying to get something for free. I hope not , because I wasn't. I just thought it was nice of get to do that for us. I'm wish for Pixie Dust, but am not going to get my hopes up or get disappointed when we end up in our standard room. But I just thought it was cool.